Alkali metal borate and lubricating compositions thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lubricating composition containing an alkali metal borate. The invention further provides for a method of lubricating a device with grease or a metalworking fluid by employing the lubricating composition containing the alkali metal borate.

1. A lubricating composition comprising: (a) an oil of lubricating viscosity; (b) an alkali metal borate dispersion, wherein the alkali metal borate has a mole ratio of 1 alkali metal to greater than 3.25 to 1:10 of boron, wherein the alkali metal borate has a mole ratio in the range from 1 alkali metal to 3.25 boron to 1 alkali metal to 10 boron, and wherein the alkali metal borate is a crystalline alkali metal pentaborate and (c) a grease thickener. 
     
     
       2. The lubricating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alkali metal borate dispersion is obtained/obtainable from physical processing: (i) the alkali metal borate; (ii) a surfactant; and (iii) an oil of lubricating viscosity; and (b) a grease thickener. 
     
     
       3. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the grease thickener is derived from a metal soap of a carboxylic acid and/or ester, wherein the metal of the metal soap is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, titanium, aluminum and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       4. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carboxylic acid and/or ester is derived from a hydroxystearic acid. 
     
     
       5. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the grease thickener is derived from an overbased calcium sulfonate. 
     
     
       6. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the grease thickener consists of a polyurea or diurea comprised of reacting a diisocyanate with fatty amine or polyamine and fatty amine. 
     
     
       7. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the grease thickener consists of a non-soap based thickener selected from the group consisting of a silica, clay, other filler type, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       8. The lubricating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alkali metal borate dispersion is obtained from physical processing, wherein the physical processing is selected from the group consisting of static mixing, milling, grinding, crushing, agitating, ultra-sonic radiating, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       9. The lubricating composition of  claim 8 , wherein the physical processing results in the alkali metal borate having a mean particle size in a range of about 100 nanometers to about 1 μm. 
     
     
       10. The lubricating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating composition has a nephelometric turbidity unit in a range of about 500 to about 3500. 
     
     
       11. The lubricating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alkali metal borate has a mole ratio of alkali metal to boron in a range in a range from 1:4 to 1:8. 
     
     
       12. The lubricating composition of  claim 1 , wherein alkali metal borate is crystalline potassium borate. 
     
     
       13. The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of a succinimide, a succinate, a C8-30-hydrocarbyl substituted sulfonate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       14. The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the alkali metal borate dispersion contains not more than one surfactant. 
     
     
       15. The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the alkali metal borate dispersion comprises about 40 wt % to about 70 wt % of alkali metal borate, about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % of surfactant, and about 25 wt % to about 55 wt % of an oil of lubricating viscosity. 
     
     
       16. A method of lubricating a mechanical device comprising supplying to the mechanical device a lubricating composition comprising: (a) an oil of lubricating viscosity; (b) an alkali metal borate dispersion, wherein the alkali metal borate has a mole ratio of 1 alkali metal to greater than 3.25 to 1:10 of boron, and wherein the alkali metal borate is a crystalline alkali metal pentaborate; and (c) a grease thickener. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mechanical device requires a grease.